Picture hanger



March 3, 1959 J. R. PEACH PICTURE HANGER YFiled Aug. '7, 1957 INVENToR. da/m E eaa' PICTURE HANGER John R; Peach, Topeka, Kans. e .Application August 7, 1 957Sria1 No..61628 f5rfClayims. J(Cl. 4U-152.1)

'Iltis ,inventiqn .relates 10 `fram@ .hangers for ,picture United States Parent O frames andthe like and refers more particnlarlyto such t .a iframe hangeriradapted t0 actually engage `the frame velen'ients Witha portionthereof while engaging airframe .supporting Surface -with another pQrtiOn thereof- Previously, frame and `picture hangers of many types have .been provided. However, the conventional .hangers available to date have possessedor shared many serious disadvantages and drawbacks. Some types fof ,hangers partially penetrate the frame or are screwed thereinto. This is objectionable on many counts, especially in light and fragile frames. Mosthanger devices are both originally 4hard to vcenter and unable to Vbe adjusted after application to the frame. Most hanger devices are insecure, pull loosefar too easily and are excessively fragile.

Few'conventional'hangers can `be utilized other than in one position relative the frame. Sonie hanger,devices .cannot be used in more than a limitedmnumber relative a `given iranienne matter whatfits size or weight. n

Most hanger devices Acannot be `used `over vagain or easily `c letacliled from :the frame oncekapplied..-"Some jhanger devices are `not useable on v"frames of ,diie'rent types and shapes. Finally, some hanger devices require means to Vattach the device to their'arne` as Well as to the s iiripirting.4 surface. for the frame.

Therefore, an object `of the invention is to provide a i picture hanger which issimple in construction andcheap and easy to manufacture.

n Another object of the invention is to provide `a `frame hanger "which, `though exceedingly simple in construe tion` and small" in size, `is very rugged and willhave a long'liferalthoughysupporting relatively heavy frames.

n Another objectoi theinvention is to provide a picture lhanger(whicrrcan bemanufacturedgin various sizes `to Y accommodate yframes of n greatly varying size.

Another object of thefinvention is'toyprovide a frame hanger which cooperates with and engages all thegele` `mentsofa frame" assembly whereby `to rmly and rug` lgedly `grip to `thefranieito. OerFstrong supportthereto.` Anotherobject ofthe inventionnis vtir-.provide aframe :hanger which may be employed'in any-hollow centered 'frame having "arcenter` openvportion with la` circumferential groove n around the openportionandhaving any `rigid felernentm received `inthe circumferential groove.I

` Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger forf'frainesfior pictures `andtheiike which is easily and n qnickly applied and, as Well, `easily and `quickly removed vyi'houtidarnaging `thejfrarnepr any `of thepiarts of lthe Picturei Another object of theiinvention is to Vprovide such a trafrsehausr devies 4which is .easy 1.0 C nter `1 aud* which handigste@ aftrenvliatiori relative the frame and aybe applied t0 the frame t require flasteningmeans 2,875,542 seared Mar. was

"2` Another object` of .the invention 3 is .to provide aihanger device for frames for pictures and the like which may be used in various ypositions `relativerthe frame, both horizontal mounting and vertical..mounting `and which may be used in anynumbers desired on any givenfrarna Yet another objectof the invention is to provide a hanger ldevicerfor frames which is secure, once applied, whichwill Vnot pnlltloose from the frarneunless `theeontents of the frame are `dislodged therefrom and which 11's extremely strong and rugged though simple in form. Another object Aof` lthe invention is `to provide .sueh a hanger deviceforframesWhichcan be used `over over n again relative various frames without excessive AWear on thehanging device. i Other and further .objeis ,of fthe invention will appear in theconrse vof theifollowing `descripltixn thereof. i

In the drawingsfwhsh form" a part .0f the -igsteat specification andalreto befread Iin conjunction therewith, Van embodiment ,of the .invention `is .shown and, in :the various views, `like numerals are employed `to .lindiclalte like parts. i l1 Fig. 1 is 4aperspectiveview, `partly sectional, showing theiinventivepicture hangerengaged with .a frameiin full lines and as it maybe moved laterally toanother Aposition in dotted :.linest Fig. 2 is .a rearelevatlon of .a frame with a pairo the inventive hanger devices positioned at the .corners v `thereof engaged with the vertical `edges of the "frange in an alternative hanging kposition.`

fi Fig. 3 1s `a perspective .vlew .of the ihanging,devine comprising vthe'invention.

later stagejinthe process of applyugthe hanger tothe framel and framecontents. e

`1s iand backing ...19, as wenas rae deptnan'd wid Fig.` 6 is a"side sectiona1`view ofa portion efafraine showing the hangerpositioned alongfthehorizontal upper edge `of `the frame fand suspending :the frame,frwmn picture hangingsurface. i

Referring particularly to `Eig. `3, Atherijsin is "shownwin `perspectiveview, `the inventive.hangendevice.` @Thiede-j vice `comprises a material, `preferably .metallic piece 1Q having a front. iiange .portion "1 1, abody portion Illand a rear ange `portionwl. ,"lflfie lfront `iiange plortionqis adapted for ,positioning between. theinner surface ohf'lr@ frame groove and the front-.face of any rigid elementfneceived insaidframegroove. i Y n `Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 5 ando. at 144is shown` one `side portion of aconventionalframe `havingua rear"` )ee 15 with a `groove 16 `formed adjacent to andwiexten into theopen centralface of thetfrarne membengd'. `Groove 16 runscircnmferentially tothe frame member? of the conventional frame which are joined `toge er and `receive the contentsro the frame, which `in th legeample illustrated compriseaglass `plate 18 and aba .ng 19 of `cardboard or the like.V It .should` be understojod that any `rigid .groove lling lelementnaay `be .substiiii ed `for the glass `plate ,1 8, `such as the.conventional.woog` n `frameused v.to support an oil paintingy canvas, orjritihe like;V '.Atlany rate, `the peripheral .edges` of the .plate18 gand.baking19 shown `fit into thegroove and `are heldtherein` bytakswor `nails 20 of .conventlixonnl type. Conventionally the `thickne-ss ofthe glasstlmaie f the groove `16",.rnaybe variablev ars-,desired Howe n I, many pitilre frames, .,.ezsanfusrthe @Xaeedingly anni and exceedingly'large anlp'onderous, havefrarne grqo es of a depth and -width withirna` relatively `narrow itiiige A n roi Fig. 5 is alview similar tothatrof Fig. :4 showinga whereby a picture hanging device of the inventive form and a single size is adaptable to many such frames. However, the device may be manufactured in various `sizes to adapt to other changes in the frame constructions, aswell asy varying depths and widths of the frame grooves.

Thefront 'ange portion 11 is adapted for positioning between the inner surface of the frame groove and the front face of the rigid element, as previously mentioned. The length of the front flange portion should not be greater than the width of the groove 16 so as not to extend past the inner edge of the frame and be itself visible from the front of the frame. The body portion 12 of the hanger device is preferably formed at substantiallyvright angles to the front flange portion and isy of greater length than the depth of the groove 16 whereby the rear ange portion 13 willnot be in closeabutment with the rear face 15 of the frame. The rear flange por- 'tion preferably extends substantially at right angles to the body portion 12 but in an opposite direction relative thereto than the front flange portion. The length of thc rear flange portion is preferably greater than that of the front flange portion but, also preferably, less than' the height of the rear face 15 of the frame member 14 so the rear flange portion 13 will not be visible above the upper edge of the frame. Opening 21 is preferably formed in the rear flange portion to receive a suspending nail or member 22 (Fig. 6).

The device itself must be of suicient strength and rigidity to avoid deformation under the weight of the frame and its contents when suspended from a wall surface as in Fig. 6 or when the hanger devices are employed as in Fig. 2 along the vertical edges of the frame. lA clip of aluminum approximately lg of lan inch thick formed as in. Fig. 3 has proven of suicient strength. However, steel, brass or other materials will suffice, and in some instances; plastic. The device may be cast in the form shown or'flat pieces formed or cut to the total length` desired and then bent to form the construction shown in Fig. 3. A plurality of openings 21 may be formed in the rear flange portion 13, if desired, especially in the case of relatively insecure supporting surfaces or light and relatively weak suspending members 22.

1 In relatively small frames, a single device of the character-desired placed centrally along the upper edge of the framepwill often serve to support the picture. In larger and heavier installations, two or more devices may Ibe employed. The devices may be used alternatively as in Fig. Zipositioned with the inner flange portions and body portions engaging the vertical grooves in the vertical side members of the frame orin the manner of `Fig. 2 and .with horizontal applications as in Fig. l, as well. p.

The manner of application of the devicevis readily `Seen in Figs. 4-6. The front flange portion 11 is insertedy between the upper edge of the groove 16 and the frame contents upper edges and between engaging nails 20. Forcev is then applied t-o the rear ange portion 13 to `pry the frame contents slightly downwardly relative the top edge of the groove 16 and permit the front flange portion to slip downwardly in front of the frame groove contents andthe devices body portion 12 to slide over the frame groove contents.' When the right angled connection ibetween the front flange portion and body por tion engages the right angled juncture betweenpthe top edge `and front edge of the groove 16, the device is in place. The nail or other suspending means 22 may then beVV nailed into the supporting surface or wall 23 and the Vopening 21 inserted around the shaft thereof to suspend vthe picture. The suspending means 22 may rst be nailed intol the surface 23, the suspending devices inserted on the frame'at roughly estimated suspending points and then the devices moved as shown in Fig. 1 to get precise alignment with the alreadyV positioned suspending means or nails. To remove the frame from the wall, the frame is merely slightly lifted and pulled forward to free it from the suspending means or nail. The inventive suspending devices rnay 4be removed from the frames in a reverse operation to that shown in Figs. 4-6 by merely exerting downward force on the outer member 13 to slide out the rbody portion and up the front flange portion. Of course, the contents of the frame grooves may be removed to place the suspending devices, if desired or necessary.

The inventive hanger device may also be fabricated as a flat piece of metal having the opening 21 in one end with the front flange portion 11 extending at right angles thereto. The device may then be positioned within the picture frame with the lbody portion and rear flange portion extending outwardly at right angles to the rear face of the picture frame. The rear flange portion may then be formed byl bending up a portion of this straight rearwardly extending portion so as to provide a construc tion shown as in Fig. 6. y i* From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to thestructure.

It will be understood that certain features and subpcombinations are of utility and may be employed withJ yout reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is Within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may `be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to 'be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawingsis to be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense. Y

lHaving thus described my inventioml claim: u y

l. .An open-centered picture frame having a recessed groove in the back thereof circumferential to said Open center, `a rigid element receivable in'said frame groove .and means for securing the rigid element in said groove,

and a picture hanger comprising a material piece a front flange portion adapted forl positioning between the inner surface of the frame groove vand the front face ofthe rigid element, a body portion at substantiallyright angles to the ront ange portion, a rear` flange portion extending substantiallyat right angles. to the 4body portionbut in an opposite direction relative thereto than the front flange portion, and means for engaging the rear flange portion with -a frame supporting surface. I

2. `A picture frame 'as in claim 1 wherein the body portion -of the hanger has a .length at leastslightly greater than the'depth-of the frame'groove. -v 1 3. An open centered picture frame having a.v recessed groovein the back thereof-circumferential to saidopen center, a rigid element receivable in said frame. groove and means for securing the rigid element in vsaid groove, anda picture hanger comprising a material piece having a front flange portion adapted for positioning between the innersurface of the frame groove and thefront .face of the rigid element, said front flange elementofno greater `length than .the width of the frame groove, a body portion at substantially right angles to the .fiont flange portion, said body portion-having a length at least slightly greater than the depth of the frame groove, a-rear flange portion extending substantially atright angles to the body portion but in an opposite direction relative thereto than the front flange portion, and means for engaging the rear flange portion with a frame -supporting surface.

4. Anv open centered picture frame having a recessed groove in the back thereof circumferential to said open `center, a rigid element receivable in said frame groove and means for securing the rigid element in said groove,

. and a picture hanger comprisingl a material piece having a :front @ange portion adapted forlpositioning between the inner surface of the frame groove and the front face of the rigid element, said front ange element of no greater length than the width of the frame groove, a body portion at substantial right angles to the front ange portion, said body portion having a length at least slightly greater than the depth of the frame groove, a rear flange portion extending substantially at right angles to the body portion but in an opposite direction relative thereto than the front flange portion, said rear ange portion having a length no greater than the distance from the edge of the portion of the frame groove to be engaged by the hanger to the outer edge of the frame opposite thereto, and means for engaging the rear ange portion with a frame supporting surface.

5. In combination with an open centered picture frame having a recessed groove in the back thereof circumferential to said open center, a rigid element receivable in said frame groove, and means for securing the rigid e1ement in said groove, a picture hanger comprising a material piece having a front flange portion adapted for positioning between the inner surface of tl'ie frame groove and the front face of the rigid element, a body portion at substantial right angles to the front flange portion, a rear ange portion extending substantially at right angles to the body portion but in an opposite direction relative thereto than the front ange portion, and means for engaging the rear flange portion with a frame supporting surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

